Oil well washing device



u 1 Sept. 11, 1956 G. E. NEWLIN 2,762,441

on. WELL wAsHxNG DEVICE Filed March 9, 1953 s sheets-sheet 1 @www f. 375 2 66 www m @mfp 2 Elli# llllllll lll l.

fwn/avro@ 6504265 E NEW/ /N TTOe/vfx/ Sept- 11, 1956 G. E. NEwLlN2,762,441 on. WELL WASHING DEVICE Filed March 9, 195s-k s sheets-sheet 2Z4- ./7 l i l? f3 f5 ,49 /0 49 79 48 v 2 45 Sept. 11, 1956 G. E. NEwLlNOIL WELL WASHING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 9, 1953 l E h/Nl/E/VTOQ, 650,@65 /VEu/L/ Arme/vis? United States Patent OIL WELLWASI'HNG DEVICE George E. Newln, Anaheim, Calif.

Application March 9, 1953, SeriafNo. 341,107

Claims. (Cl. 166--186) The present invention relates to an oil wellwashing device. The invention has for arr object an oil well washingdevice adapted to clean perforationsV in standard perforated liners, andwhich device is readily controlled as to operation from the surface ofthe well hole.

Another object is the provision ofY an oil well cleaning device soconstructed and arranged as to permitwashing of both regular andgravel-packed liners.

A further object is the provision of an oil well washing device whichwashes mechanical punched and gunshot casings eiciently and rapidly.

A further object is the provision of an oil wellwashing device which iscapable of washing rotary mud out ofY newly drilled. wells before thewell is put on production, and which is capable of washing liners looseAafter a production test, and which permits the use of chemicals in awashing operation Where spotting is desired.

A further object is the provision of a device for washing liners whichwill not sand lock under normal use.

A further object is the provision of a device which may be readilyreleased from the liner in the event that the device becomes frozenwithin the liner or frozen for any reason whatsoever.

A further object is the provision of a device which permits its releasefrom carrying tools when in a well, to the end that the said carryingtools, such as tubing, may be withdrawn from the well.

A further object is the provision of a device for washing liners whichis so designed and built that the same will operate with regular pumppressure and wherein there is no wastage of cleaning uid.

A further object is the provision of a device which readily locatesleaks in a casing. y

A further object of the invention is the provision of an oil wellwashing device constructed and arranged to have a positive mechanicalpack-off.

A further object is the provision of a device so constructed andarranged as to hold a column of iuid or chemical in tubing or. drillpipe until pump pressure is applied, thereby enabling one to control theexact amount of Huid or acid applied to a selected area.

Other objects will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in theart.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the inventionconsists in the novel, and the useful provision, formation,construction, arrangement, and interrelation of parts, members andfeatures, all as. disclosed in certain embodiments in the accompanyingYdrawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of the improved oil well washingdevice shown within a well hole, the parts being in one position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation partly inv section of the tool shownin Figure l and taken onr the line 2 2 of said ligure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section of 2, furtherdetails of the tool, and taken on the 1ine3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, and similar toFigure 2, certain parts of the invention being in a moved relationship;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section, and similar toFigure 3, parts of the invention being in moved relationship;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6- ofl Figure2;

FigureA 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fi'gure-3;

Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a modified form ofthe device of the invention within a well hole;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section,l taken on theline 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure l0 is a fragmentary elevation, on` an enlarged scale, and partlyin section, of valve# means shown in Figure 9i; and

Figure l1 is a View similar to Figure l0, the parts being in changedlrelationship.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, and specifically toFigures 1 to 7 inclusive, the device of the invention, as shown inFigure l, has been lowered by means ofv a tubing 1 within well casing 2to a position, adjacent a perforated liner 3 with the intent of cleaningthe perforations of detritaly material. The device shown inits simplestembodiment includes: upper and' lower packers 4 and 5 respectively, andan interposed hydraulic valve 6, which hydraulic valve is adapted toexpand the packers 4 and 5 against the screen or perforated liner whenpump pressure is applied to a column of oil within tubing 1 in themanner illustrated in Figure 5, and to thereafter allow the fluid toescape under pressure from the hydraulic valve while holding the packersexpanded, andthus in this manner by jet action, force the fluid underpressure, outside said hydraulic valve and' through the per-forations ofthe liner or screen.

Other features of the invention include means for bleeding the device soas to release the packers from engagement with the screen or perforatedliner, so that the packers may be released from said liner or screen formovement to a new location, together with means whereby the entire toolmay be released from the tubing inthe event the device becomes frozenwithin the well hole.

The tubingy 1, at its lower end, is threaded within' a coupling pin 7,as shown at 8. Thepin9' of said coupling is elongated' andlscrew-threaded for engagement with the screw threads'of a box 10. Thepin 9 is provided with onetor more transverse holes 11 and said pininward from its lower end, is provided with an annular groove 12, ofextended width, such construction providing shoulders at 1'3 and 14. Thecoupling box carries a stop-screw 15, whichis received within theannular groove 12 and is adapted to limit movement between the couplingbox and the coupling pin, when the pin is unthreaded relative to thebox, the arrangement being such that when the tubing isV turned in onedirectionv to rotate the pin, the transverse bore or bores 11, will beexposed in the manner shown in Figure 4, the transverse screw 15engaging the shoulder 13 to limit such unthreading movement. Exposingthe hole or holes 11 acts to bleed the packer in a manner more fully setforth hereinafter. The pin 9 is annularly grooved at 16 for thereception of an O ring 17, interposed between a pair of back-up rings,which acts to liuid seal the pin andthe box when theparts are in theposition shown in Figure 2. In the drawing I have shown a pair ofwashers 18-betweenr the: pin and the box. The,` coupling box 10externally lcarriesy aiplurality of equidistantly spaced apart bowedleaf springs 19. These springs are held at one end by any appropriatemeans such as by the screws shown at 20. The upper ends of said springsare movable within longitudinal surface ways, as shown. Also includedwithin the structure is a bull nose plug and strainer 21 of conventionalform and which plug is screw-threaded Within the coupling 7 at 22.

Thus, so far, in the description of the invention, I have provided acoupling for the tubing 1, which coupling in turn is threaded to a box10, which box carries bowed leaf springs for engagement with the innersurface of the screen or perforated liner for holding the box againstrotation when the tubing 1 is rotated, to in turn rotate the pin 9 andraise the pin 9 from the position of Figire 2 to that of Figure 4, tobleed the tubing. The bull nose plug and strainer functions to strainthe liquid passing within the oil well washing device considered as anentirety.

The box 10 is internally threaded at 23 to receive the upper threadedend of a main barrel or mandrel 24. The packers 4 and 5 are carried onthis mandrel, as is likewise the hydraulic valve 6. As the packers areof identical construction, but reversed as to position, the packer 4will be described, the same numbers of reference applying to the packer5.

The packer 4 includes an elongated member of annular form made ofinherently resilient material such as neoprene, which is oil resistant,one end of Which packer is provided with an annular V-shaped groove 25.Inward from the opposite end 26 and extending substantially one-- halfthe length of the packer is a helical wire or leaf cage 27, the cagebeing molded Within the packer material for the purpose of givingrigidity and non-expansibility to the packer at this zone. The packer isstepped inwardly from end 26 as shown at 28, and received on said stepis a casting 29. The casting 29 is annular in form and adapted to it onthe mandrel 24. In particular, the said casting is T-shaped in section,which is to say, is enlarged at the portion which surrounds the mandreland then reduced in thickness outwardly from said portion. As shown inthe drawing, specifically Figure 3, the inner diameter of the packer isgreater than the external diameter of the mandrel, so as to provide anannular space between said packer and mandrel at 30. The casting 29 isprovided with a series of ports 31 which allows communication betweenthe annular space 30 and the exterior of said casting. Within thecontines of space 30 is a stiff coiled spring 32, one end of whichspring bears against the lower end of the casting 29. As stated, theopposite packer 5, is of identical construction, except reversed as toposition.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, I have provided what I term a guide nut 33which is in threaded engagement with the upper threaded end of themandrel 24. This guide nut abuts the upper end of the casting 29 and isspaced from the outlets of ports 31 by the construction shown.Furthermore, the said guide nut is provided with a series of peripheraltransverse ilutes 34 which function as a sand bypass to eliminate sandlocking. As shown in the drawings, the diameter of the guide nut isslightly greater than the diameter of the packer 4, thus aiding inpreventing damage to the packer during movement of the packer within awell hole.

Referring to the lower packer 5, this packer is held in position uponthe barrel or mandrel 24 by means of a guide plug 35. This guide plug isprovided with a rounded end, as shown, with the periphery of said guideplug provided with transverse ilutes 36, functioning as a sand bypass.The guide plug has the same diameter as the guide nut 33, and is formedwith a threaded bore at 37 for engagement with the lower threaded end ofthe mandrel or barrel 24. The casting 29 for packer 5 engages the baseportion of said guide plug, as shown, for thepurpose of spacing thelower end of packer 5 from said plug and likewise providing a space asindicated at 38, whereby uid passage is provided from the space betweenthe barrel or mandrel 24 and the packer, through the ports in saidcasting and outwardly therefrom.

interposed between the packers 4 and 5 is the hydraulic valve 6. Thehydraulic valve includes a cylinder 39 of elongated form and which isinternally threaded at 40 for connection with an expander 41, so calledbecause it is adapted to expand the packer 4, as hereinafter set forth.The said expander has a reduced diameter and threaded portion at 42, forconnection with the threads 40, the enlarged portion of said expanderhaving a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylinder 39with the end portion 43, termed the head, slightly domed or curved, soas to readily enter the packer 4. Said expander head is provided with aninternal annular groove 44, within which is confined an O ring whichengages the periphery of the barrel or mandrel 24, to provide a uidtight iit at this portion. The opposite end of the cylinder receives aplunger sleeve 45 which forms a part of the expander 46. The plungersleeve is confined between the periphery of the barrel or mandrel 24 andthe inner surface of the cylinder 39, and has a greater length than theportion 42 of the expander 41. As before, the expander 46 has a headportion which is rounded, or curved at 47, so formed as to enter thepacker 5 to expand the same, and the diameter of said head portion isslightly greater than the diameter of the cylinder 39. The plungersleeve of the expander is provided with an internal annular groove 48within which is positioned an O ring, which has engagement with theperiphery of the barrel or mandrel 24. The lower end of the cylinder 39is provided with segmental slots 49, of which there may be a plurality.These slots provide ports for the escape of oil when the plunger sleeve,and the cylinder have moved to a certain position, as for instance,illustrated in Figure 5. Thus, this portion provides one form of valve.

The main barrel or mandrel 24, at that portion thereof which is normallyconfined within the cylinder 39, is provided With a longitudinal seriesof elongated slots 50. These slots act as ports for the escape of oilfrom the mandrel into the space included between the inner wall of saidcylinder and said mandrel for the purpose of causing relative movementbetween the cylinder and the plunger sleeve 45 to in turn move the headportions 43 and 47 within the packers 4 and 5 to expand said packersagainst the wall of the casing or the liner in the manner shown inFigure 5, and after said expansion to permit the said oil under pressureto escape through the segmental slots 49.

The form of the invention just described is utilized when a returncirculation of oil is possible. The space included between the tubing 1and the tool is iilled with yoil to the top of the well, and the tubing1 is iilled with oil so that there will be substantially equalhydrostatic pressure both within and without the tool. This isessential, otherwise the valves in the tool will not work properly andmay remain open.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 1l inclusiveis utilizedin conjunction with the tool just described, for holding oil within thetubing 1 prior to applying pump pressure. The invention includes meanswhch may be preset at the surface of the well so as to hold the weightof oil in the tubing 1 for a given depth, and is adapted to be insertedbetween the safety coupling box and the nut 33.

Referring to Figure 9, a pin 60 is internally threaded to the upperthreaded end of the mandrel 24, as shown at 61, and the external threadsof said pin are in threaded v engagement with internal threads 62 of ailuid release barrel 63. The tluid release barrel confines an adjustableannular nut 64 provided with a hexagonal socket 65 whereby by suitabletool it may be threaded inwardly or outwardly of the said fluid releasebarrel 63, and which nut is adapted to bear against the lower end. of acoil spring 66 confined within said barrel 63. The barrel is providedwith an internal annular ange 67 and the barrel beyond the flange isinternally taper screw threaded at 68 for connection with a coupling 69.This coupling has two pins, one pin 70 is in threaded engagement withthe threads 68 of the barrel, while pin 71 is threaded to the internalthreads of the safety coupling box 10.

A valve of the type best depicted in Figures 10 and 1l, is carried bythe annular flange 67. The valve includes a housing or cage 72 having acylindrical outer surface and provided with a through bore, the upperportion 73 of the bore being of lesser diameter than the remainingprtion 74 of said bore. The housing is likewise provided with anenlarged counterbore 75. The housing is flanged at 76, with the angeadapted to abut the under surface of the flange 67. The housing or cagefits within the confines of the flange 67, with the upper end of thespring 66 abutting against the lower end of a valve piston 77 adaptedfor sliding movement within the housing or Cage 72. The piston isprovided with a central bore 78 which, however, does not extend throughthe head 79 thereof. The head of the piston is provided with acylindriclplug 3i) which fits within the reduced diameter bore 73 of thehousing or cage. The head of the piston is provided with a series ofinclined ports 81 which communicate between the outer surface of thehead of the piston and the central bore 78. The wall of the piston,substantially intermediate in length, is provided with an annular seriesof radial bores 82 and in one position, the position shown in Figure l0,said bores 82 communicate with inclined bores 83 in the housing or cage,the bores 83 in turn registering with radial bores 84 in the ange 67 ofthe barrel 63. The barrel is provided with an annular groove in ltheplane of the bores 83. The piston is provided with a base ange 85adapted to abut the flangek 76 of the housing or cage to limit upwardmovement of the piston within said housing or cage. The upper end of thecoil spring 66 abuts against the base flange 85 of the piston for urgingthe piston inwardly of its casing o r cage. An annular nut 86 hasthreaded engagement with threads 87 on the housing or cage 72 and inthis manner, the entire valve assembly is held in engagement with theflange 67, it being observed that the flange 76 of the housing or cageengages the under surface of the ange 67 and that the nut 86 engages theopposite surface of said flange 67. It is further to be observed thatthe plug 80 fits with close tolerance within the reduced bore 73, so'asto close entrance within the housing or cage 72 of any fluid.

In Figure ll, I have shown a moved position of the piston wherein theplug 80 has moved within the counterbore 75, which allows anyuid to passthrough the bore 73 into the counterbore, thence through the ports 8-1into the bore 78 of the piston. The ports 82 have moved downwardly fromthe position shown in Figure 10, thereby closing communication throughports 82, 83 and84. In the position shown in Figure l1, the spring 66has been compressed.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described areas follows:

Taking the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, thetool may be lowered within a well casing 2 by means of tubing or drillpipe 1 to any desired location within the well hole. In Figure l, I haveshown oil at a certain level within the casing of the well hole and theoil well washing device has been positioned adjacent certainperforations in the casing which are to be cleaned of detrital material.All parts of the tool will be in the position shown in Figures l, 2 and3, which is to say, the packers are free of the inner surface of theperforated casing and the nuts 33 and 35 have guided the tool within thecasing without damaging the packers. The bowed leaf springs 19 are inengagement with the inner .surface of the casing as shown. Assuming thatthe, casing perforations included between the packers 4 and` 5 in Figurelare to be cleaned, fluid under pressure is pumped through the tubing 1.This fluid, which is usually hot oil passes through the bull nosestrainer 21 and through the bore in the safety coupling pin 7 and thebore of the safety coupling box 10 into the mandrel or barrel 24. Thisoil, which is under pump pressure, will pass through the transverseslots 50 in the barrel and impinge against the inner Wall of thecylinder and the end of the pin 42 and the inner end of the plungersleeve 45. The oil under pressure will cause relative separation betweenthe cylinder and the plunger sleeve with the result that the expanderheads 41 and 46 will telescope the packers 4 and 5 cornpressing thesprings 32 and forcing the packers into e11- gagement with the innersurface of the casing in the manner shown in Figure 5. The expansion ofthe packers is approximately half the thickness thereof to cause aperfect seal with the casing in two separated zones. This expansion ofthe packers against the casing wall will continue until the lower end ofthe cylinder has raised the ports 49 to a certain distance above theplunger sleeve 45, as. shown in Figure 5. An outlet is thereforeprovided for the oil under pressure, which oil impinges the casing, andspecifically, the perforations for the purpose of cleaning the same.During said cleaning, the packers are at all times held in engagementwith the casing.

Assuming that the perforations in a given zone have been cleaned, and itis desired to move the tool to a new location within the casing for afurther cleaning operation pump pressure on the oil within the tubing 1is released, and there is a hydrostatic balance, both exterior thetubing and within the tubing, release of oil pressure within the tubingto the tool allows the springs 32 to move the expander heads 41 and 46outwardly of the packers and the plunger sleeve to move within thecylinder to the position shown in Figure 3. Any tendency to sand up iseffectively prevented, as oil may flow through the ports 31 from space30 and outwardly around the eX- panders and packers. As aconsequence thetool is easily releasedfrom casing engagement.

If we assume, however, that the tool should become frozen within thecasing and could not be freed in the manner aforesaid, then the safetycoupling release may be utilized by making a certain number of turns onthe tubing 1 at the surface of the well. In actual practice, six turnsof the tubing 1 to the right will move the safety coupling pin to theposition shown in Figure 4, to expose the transverse ports 11 above theend of the safety coupling box 10.. There is no danger in turning thetool as stated, as the safety stop screw 15 will indicate, at thesurface of the well, when said screw has moved within the annular groove12 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 4. Inthis manner, it is quite impossible to drop the tool within the casingor well hole, and this method provides a liquid release to bleed thetubing after a given job has been completed or to apply fluid to washaway sand which might form above the top packer 4.

A second condition might be considered, to wit: if the tool is stuck ina broken casing. By turning the tubing 1 to the right on the derrick oorthe safety coupling is forced open, and the safety stop screw 15 cuts athread through the portion 13 of the safety coupling pin, thus releasingthe safety coupling pin upon further turning of the tubing, from thesafety coupling box. This allows complete withdrawal from the well holeof all tubing together with the bull nose plug carried by the safetycoupling pin. Thereafter, a fishing tool may be dropped within thecasing to recover the balance of the tool.

The device of Figures 8 to ll inclusive is used to balance the weight ofoil within the tubing 1, prior to applying pump pressure thereto.

The rst operation consists in Idetermining the depth to which the toolis to be lowered and held within the casing. Knowing the capacity of thetubing 1 at-that depth, the weight of a column of oil is easilydetermined. The operator, by suitable tool inserted within the hexagonalportion 65 of the nut 64, compresses the spring 66 to the end that thevalve shown in Figures l and 11 will not open, nor move from theposition in Figure l0 to that of Figure 11, while supporting the staticweight column of oil aforesaid. The moment, however, that pump pressureis applied to the column of oil, the valve opens, and allows the oil topass through the opening 73 into the space 75 and through the ports 81in the crown of the piston. This oil continues its path of movementthrough the barrel 63, into the hydraulic valve, which has heretoforebeen described. After movement of the hydraulic valve part to expand thepackers, both top and bottom, the oil is forced under pressure throughthe milled openings at 49 and into the space included between thepackers for the purpose of pressure cleaning the perforations. Themoment that pump pressure is relieved at the surface of the well, fromthe column in the tubing 1, the piston 77 will close, the plug 80entering the bore 73 and the ports 82 will be in communication with theports at 83 and 84, so that oil under pressure within the tool andparticularly within the hydraulic valve will be relieved to the end thatthe hydraulic valve will close, being assisted in this regard by thesprings 32 included between the mandrel or working barrel, and the saidpackers. Quite obviously, the uid is retained within the tubing 1 afterpump pressure is discontinued and it is now an easy matter to relocatethe tool within the liner for further operation.

I claim:

1. The combination with an oil Well cleaner of the type having spacedpackers which are expanded against a liner by pressure exerted throughthe hollow stem to which the cleaner is secured, of anti-sand-lockmeans, said means including a perforated closure member in each packer,a wedging expander at the opposite end of each packer, and a springloosely mounted between the stem and the inside surface of each packer,urging the closure member and the expander apart, whereby any sandcollecting above an expanded packer and blocked by the proximateexpander will move freely downward past the packer when the expander isurged out of the packer by its spring upon release of pressure urgingthe packers into engagement with the liner.

2. In an oil well cleaner of the type having spaced packers which areexpanded against a liner by pressure exerted through the hollow stern towhich the cleaner is secured, a coupling box attached to the cleaner, acoupling pin attached to the stem and having threaded engagement withthe box, said pin having an external annular groove near its bottom endand said box having a set screw normally limiting relative rotation ofthe box and the pin by extending into the groove and striking the lowershoulder of the groove, but cutting a releasing threald below saidshoulder by greater rotative movement exerted upon the stem, whereby thestem may be removed should the cleaner become frozen to the casing.

3. A valve structure for cleaning devices for perforated oil Well casngsand adapted to hold a column of fluid in the stem or tubing prior toapplying pump pressure, comprising a tubular member having transverseparts, a cage secured thereto having ports constantly in communicationwith the transverse ports and a port coaxial with the tubular member toprovide a chamber proximate the coaxial port, a thimble valve slidablein the cage, said valve having a head snugly engaging the coaxial portand having transverse ports registering with the cage transverse portswhen the'valve is moved to position its head in the coaxial port toclose that port and to engage the cylindrical side wall of the cage incoaxial part open position, said thimble valve having additional portsconstantly placing the interior of the valve in communication with thechamber in the cage below the coaxial port, and resilient means forurging the valve into position to close the coaxial port by moving saidhead therein.

4. A valve structure for cleaning devices for perforated oil wellcasings and adapted to hold a column of fluid in the stem or tubingprior to applying pump pressure, comprising a tubular member having arestricted portion with a main bore coaxial with the tubular member anda smaller coaxial bore spaced from said main bore to provide a chamberbetween the two bores, said restricted portion and the tubular memberhaving common transverse ports connecting the main bore with the outsideof the tubular member, a thimble valve slidable in the main bore andhaving an elongated plug head above the thimble portion to lit snuglywithin the smaller bore when the valve is closed and having lower portsto register with the said transverse ports and lead to the interior ofthe valve when the plug head closes the smaller bore and having upperports below the head constantly establishing communication between theinterior of the thimble valve and the chamber, and adjustable means forspring loading the valve before introducing the assembly into the wellthereby to hold the expected hydrostatic uid weight at the tool so thatthe valve can only be opened by added pump pressure at the surface.

5. The valve structure of claim 4 in which the adjustable means includesa coil spring many times the axial length of the valve structure and anut movable axially a greater distance than said axial length, and therestricted portion includes an annular ilange extending inwardly fromthe tubular member, a cage having a shoulder engagement with the ange,and a hollow locking member engaging the flange and secured to the cage.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,539,242 Carder May 26, 1925 1,802,525 Newlin Apr. 28, 1931 1,808,958Lane et al lune 9, 1931 2,103,940 Fletcher Dec. 28, 1937 2,132,072`lohnston Oct. 4, 1938 2,610,859 Wilcox et al Sept. 16, 1952

